Diane Delano, who plays Bobbi Glass, the scary science teacher on The WB's ``Popular,'' praises Spencer for his good looks and talent. ``He's handsome!'' They're standing outside at a patio at the Skirball Cultural Center, in Los Angeles, before the SHINE Awards. (The awards are given to TV shows for responsibly addressing sexual issues.) ``You can quote me,'' the enthusiastic Delano added, smiling at Spencer.

Spencer grins bashfully and gets back to discussing the White House.

Actually, ``The West Wing,'' which airs 9 p.m. EDT Wednesdays on NBC, is filmed at realistic sets at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, Calif. One of the highest-rated series on television, it broke the record last fall for the most Emmys in a single season.

In this week's new episode, the medical secrets of President Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen) threaten to unravel his administration.

``I think, first and foremost, it's the quality of the writing,'' Spencer said about ``The West Wing.'' Series creator Aaron Sorkin, one of the executive producers along with John Wells of ``ER,'' writes the episodes, which reflect the headlines.

Spencer said he likes how the drama addresses issues such as gun control and the First Amendment.

The actor is a liberal Democrat who voted for Al Gore.

``I believe in sex education, I believe in gun control,'' Spencer said. But Spencer conceded Washington, D.C., might not be ready for Sheen, who's more liberal than the president he plays. ``Martin is a pacifist. I don't know if we could have a pacifist in the White House,'' Spencer said.

Spencer is a New Jersey native who lives in New York when he isn't working on ``The West Wing.'' He got his start as a young guest-star on ``The Patty Duke Show.''

His most famous role came when he joined the cast of ``L.A. Law'' as a down-to-earth lawyer, Tommy Mullany. He also has guest-starred on ``Law & Order,'' ``Miami Vice,'' ``Spenser: For Hire,'' ``Early Edition'' and ``Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.''

His movies include ``The Negotiator,'' ``The Rock,'' ``Forget Paris'' and ``Green Card.''

``West Wing'' star Dule Hill, meanwhile, said he wasn't surprised his character, presidential aide Charlie Young, was the target of the assassination attempt that wrapped up last season. The killer was a bigot who didn't want a black man to date the president's daughter.

``I knew it was coming,'' Hill said. ``I got the script for the season finale, and I thought, 'I don't want to die.' `` Fortunately, the assassin missed his target, and Bartlet and Assistant Chief of Staff Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) survived their gunshot wounds.

Hill praised Charlie. ``I like that he's sincere, full of integrity. He's a very righteous guy. He doesn't get too caught up (in the White House); he walks his own path. He wants to get into politics, but he isn't going to cover his ---.''

The young actor also praised his fellow stars. ``I've learned so much from Martin Sheen.''

And Hill talked about a trip the cast took to Washington, D.C., where some scenes are shot on location.

``The first time I arrived on our (Burbank) set, I was amazed,'' Hill said. ``But weeks later, when I came to the White House and the Oval Office, it was the same size and seemed like I'd been there before. I was thinking, 'When's the next scene?' I also got to meet President Clinton's real personal aide, and he made things clearer as to just how important the job was.''

Hill was born in Orange, N.J., and grew up in nearby Sayreville. He's the youngest of two sons born to Jamaican parents. His father is an investment banker and his mother is an educator. Hill began attending dance school when he was 3 and got his first break years later when producers of Broadway's ``The Tap Dance Kid'' called the school in search of students who could sing, dance and act. That led Hill to a musical theater career.

His movies have included ``Sugar Hill'' with Wesley Snipes and ``She's All That'' with Freddie Prinze Jr. On TV, he has guest-starred on ``Cosby,'' ``Smart Guy'' and ``New York Undercover.''